Chapter 217: In the Darkness
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Seol Pan-gyo’s eyes went round once more.
‘Guest Retainer interview…!’
A thrilling sensation spread through his entire body.
Because he had grasped the hidden meaning in Cheol Ryu-heun’s words.
By assigning him work, he was giving him an opportunity for forgiveness.
That’s right.
He hadn’t even properly exchanged a word yet, but Cheol Ryu-heun seemed to have seen straight through his heart.
Once again, an amazing person.
His insight is extraordinary.
Almost like a master who has accumulated long years of experience…
“Why, can’t you do it?”
When Cheol Ryu-heun crudely asked while walking away with his back turned, Seol Pan-gyo quickly shook his head and shouted.
“No! I can do it! I will definitely accomplish it!”
He had obtained a precious opportunity that would change his life.
Therefore, he must do it.
Even if it meant staying up all night.
Right after Cheol Ryu-heun disappeared to the other side of the training grounds.
“Did you come here to request becoming a Guest Retainer of this place? Nice to meet you. I’m Hae Su-yeon.”
Hae Su-yeon, having greeted with a bright smile, along with Namgung Sang-rin and Gal Jung-heon, approached the unfamiliar Seol Pan-gyo and briefly introduced themselves.
When mutual greetings ended.
GULP.
Seol Pan-gyo unknowingly swallowed dry saliva.
It was because of Gal Jung-heon’s presence.
‘That person…’
The former Nine Demon Alliance Leader who had achieved rejuvenation.
Meeting face to face with a powerful figure of the demonic path martial world like this made his nervousness obvious.
Well, who wouldn’t feel the same?
At that moment, Yeop Hwon, Hyeop Mu-geuk, Guyang Cheon, and other executives, including the sect’s members, appeared at the training grounds.
It seemed they had woken from their sleep, startled by the commotion.
Soon, the executives, having discovered Divine wind and the Guest Retainer party, brightened and poured out questions about the duels.
Namgung Sang-rin and Hae Su-yeon took turns briefly summarizing and teaching about the contest between Cheol Ryu-heun and So Cheon-ak, along with various other matters.
When the story thus ended, Seol Pan-gyo’s eyes shook greatly.
‘GOOD HEAVENS…!’
Shock, and thrill.
Cheol Ryu-heun’s martial might was truly at an awe-inspiring level.
Starting with Severing Finger Sword Venerable So Cheon-ak, to think that Hungry Wolf Blade Demon Jinjo Jeok-je, Jade Qilin Yeo Yong-jeo, and even Black Silken Sword Sovereign Wei Ta-gong were all defeated…
What was surprising wasn’t just that.
The truth related to Cheol Ryu-heun’s transcendent martial world seniority was also astonishing.
Sword Emperor Buk Ga-shin, Evil Emperor Yul-cheon, Martial Immortal Dongbang Ya.
The person who had inherited the martial arts of those three, who had left peerless achievements in the long martial world history, was Cheol Ryu-heun?
He couldn’t help but click his tongue in amazement.
What kind of fortuitous encounter on earth made that possible?
Yet the following words from Gal Jung-heon delivered even greater shock.
“Today, Sect Leader Cheol also achieved his third complete body transformation. We all watched that scene. Truly a mystical sight.”
Seol Pan-gyo felt dizzy in his head.
‘I-I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!’
HEOH, a full three times at that.
When experiencing even once in a lifetime is heavenly fortune.
At that moment, Hae Su-yeon turned her head and looked at one person.
“AH! It’s Lan, right? The disciple of Head-Severing Yama Senior Seop.”
Cui Lan, who had been silent, formally introduced herself and then addressed Hae Su-yeon.
“Sister Hae is much prettier in person than what I heard.”
“OH MY. It’s makeup magic. HUHUT.”
“Um… Then please teach me too. How to do makeup.”
“OHO, is there someone you want to look good for?”
“Sect Leader Cheol.”
At Cui Lan’s bold reply, Hae Su-yeon smiled.
“HUT. Oh my, a rival has appeared. Well, that’s that, and I’ll teach you starting tomorrow. Once you start learning, it’ll be fun.”
“Yes, Sister! Thank you! Please take care of me from now on.”
Amid that, Namgung Sang-rin, seeing Elder Yeop Hwon, asked.
“By the way, has Senior Seop departed?”
“That’s right. As you know, he left together with Woon-rang on the hunt.”
“AH, yes. I want to meet him soon. Since he’s such a legendary figure…”
“HEOHUT, the true legend starts from now.”
“PARDON?”
“Sect Leader-nim said once before. That before long, Senior Seop’s martial fame will surpass Outside Heaven God-Slayer.”
“AH…! He must have obtained new enlightenment!”
“INDEED, once the hunt concludes, everyone will come to know.”
As soon as Yeop Hwon finished speaking, Seol Pan-gyo tilted his head.
“UM… The hunt has been mentioned since earlier, but what is it?”
At that, Hyeop Mu-geuk opened his mouth instead.
“It’s the Sun Moon Demon Cult elimination operation.”
Seol Pan-gyo’s complexion paled upon hearing those words.
‘YEEK! The Sun Moon Demon Cult…?’
Namgung Sang-rin, smiling slightly, added.
“We didn’t explain everything earlier, but Sect Leader Cheol will tell you separately tomorrow. Since it happens to be the day the disciples return from vacation.”
At that moment, a Six Directional transmitted voice suddenly rang out like an echo.
-STOP CHATTERING AND GO GET SOME SLEEP. WANT TO DO ALL-NIGHT WORK WITH THE Guest Retainer CANDIDATE?
It was Cheol Ryu-heun.
HUDADAK HUDADAK-!
Thus, only Seol Pan-gyo remained alone at the spot where the crowd had scattered.
‘The Sun Moon Demon Cult elimination operation. EUEUM. I don’t know what’s what yet, but… Let’s finish the assigned work first.’
The promising prodigy and young lord of the orthodox faction who had lived that way soon rolled up his sleeves like a laborer and began restoring the messed-up training grounds.
* * *
After putting down his luggage and washing up, Namgung Sang-rin collapsed onto his bed as if falling.
His eyelids were heavy.
However,
His heart was even heavier.
Because of the mysterious enemy he had encountered today.
‘The ones who destroyed my household…’
-Did you recognize my Azure Heaven Great Revolution Sword Art?
-That’s… not all.
-WHAT?
-Back then too… I saw it.
-Back then?
-Yes… On that dark night… Struggling while drawing a blue sky… Your father… who drew his last breath. KEUKKEUK.
Namgung Sang-rin clenched his fist while recalling those snickering words.
What on earth was the reality of the secretive powerful enemy group that had brought extinction to his household?
-Now I feel… regretful. If you, the brat back then, had just been eliminated too… that would have been… good…
Recalling that scene repeatedly, Namgung Sang-rin blew out a sigh as if trying to shake off stray thoughts.
“HUU.”
In any case, what was certain was that the cloaked figure was a member of the secret organization that had destroyed his household.
Suddenly, Cheol Ryu-heun’s words came to mind.
-We’ll have to find out. The identity of the villains who brought the Namgung Family to extinction in the past. They’re the enemies of our Guest Retainer, so how can we just stand by? We will definitely find them. No matter how long it takes.
‘Yes. Finding something out on my own is difficult. So… I’ll trust Sect Leader Cheol and wait.’
Namgung Sang-rin murmured inwardly and gently closed his eyes.
At that moment.
A familiar face flashed through his mind.
It was the face of his only younger sibling, who had experienced the night of Family extinction just like him.
‘Heon-rin… I’m waiting for the day we meet again. Please take care of yourself.’
* * *
Deep in the mountains, dark as ink.
Two people were rapidly running through that place, dark as if ghosts lived there.
They were Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae.
“HEOK, HEOK…!”
Jeon Kwae, covered in blood, breathed roughly.
Namgung Heon-rin, moving alongside, wasn’t much different.
“HEOK, HEOK… Just a bit more…!”
Suddenly, brutal strong energy surged in from behind.
Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae swiftly dodged left and right.
HUWAAAAK-!
Formless energy current sliced through the air and advanced, destroying massive old trees in a row.
KWAKWAKWAKWANG…!
The poured energy current reduced not just trees but even boulders to powder.
Truly formidable internal power.
At that moment, Namgung Heon-rin, as if having discovered something, shouted.
“KWAE! Over here!”
When he turned direction sideways and sent a hand signal, Jeon Kwae turned his large frame toward that direction.
PAPAPAPA, PAPAPAPA-
Thus, the two relentlessly pushed through the darkness.
In an instant, countless shadows rapidly approached behind them.
SASASASASA-T, SASASASASASA-T-!
Having noticed this, Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae immediately fired true energy from the yongcheon points on both soles.
PANG, PAPANG-!
Their advancing movement speed instantly accelerated.
The effect of unleashing near-peak power.
Had they shaken them off?
No.
After a short while, the countless figures that had been far behind were already assaulting their backs.
‘EUUK! Persistent bastards…!’
Namgung Heon-rin suddenly pivoted and swung his right hand’s sword horizontally.
SSWAEEAEAEAEAEK!
A long sword energy was emitted from the blade’s trajectory.
A great quantity of energy advancing while compressing the gap.
Not to be outdone, the numerous shadows at close range wildly swung both hands.
CHWACHWACHWO-K, CHWACHWACHWACHWO-K, CHWACHWACHWO-K-!
With sharp fingernails extended like those of beasts.
PEOPEOPEOPEOPEOPEONG…!
Simultaneously with a thunderous roar bursting forth, the dark space was shaken.
While countless figures paused from the sword’s energy’s impact, Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae once again exerted peak internal power.
PAPANG!
Along with a crisp sound, their forms advanced even faster.
Thus, the two reached the edge of a certain cliff.
“HEOK, HEOK… This is the place.”
When Namgung Heon-rin spoke while gasping for breath, Jeon Kwae tilted his head with puzzled eyes.
“HEOK, HEOK… Heon-rin… Might we have seen wrong?”
At that, Namgung Heon-rin wore a resolute expression.
“This is the place. If the map he drew isn’t wrong… Now, let’s go down there.”
“EU… I’m scared, somehow.”
“Me too. But anyway, the only place we can flee to is below the cliff.”
Right at that moment.
“KIHAK!”
“KIAAAK, KIAK!”
“KAEK, KYAHAK!”
Ferocious shrieks struck their eardrums.
Sounds evoking hungry beasts, giving them goosebumps.
Suddenly.
-KEUKKEUK. Nowhere left to go. Now I will tear your two bodies to shreds and moisten my throat and fill my belly with that blood.
Someone’s transmitted voice was heard.
It felt completely different from that of ordinary people.
‘KEUK! That monster…’
Right as Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae’s blood ran cold, they simultaneously launched their forms.
PAPAK!
They kicked off the ground and rose, falling below the cliff.
By a hair’s breadth.
KWAKWAKWAKWAKWAK-!
Ten long objects resembling pitch-black fingernails pierced through the darkness and lodged deeply where the two had just been standing, raising dust.
-TSS… Missed them.
In that gap, Namgung Heon-rin and Jeon Kwae disappeared below the cliff.
PIPIPI-T, PIPIPIPI-T…
The long objects lodged in the ground were sucked into the darkness.
Following that.
SEUSEUK.
A figure dressed in black attire quietly approached the cliff’s edge.
A middle-aged man with snow-white, extremely pale skin.
“Stupid fools. Of all places, to go there…”
At that moment, the shadows that had swarmed behind him writhed frantically and let out chilling sounds.
Then the middle-aged man turned his head and sneered.
“HUT. Wait. Before long, many prey will appear.”